After 317 people in 20 states got sick from eating contaminated chicken, consumer groups today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to do a better job of inspecting poultry.
Last week, the department told Foster Farms, a California poultry producer, to correct problems that led to a salmonella outbreak.
The consumer groups sent a letter to the department, asking why the government has not asked Foster Farms to recall its chicken, given the high number of people who got sick.
In addition, they asked the government to insist that all poultry plants review their safety plans for salmonella. And they said Congress should set new performance standards for the industry.
The groups noted that Denmark and Sweden achieved reductions in human salmonella cases by reducing pathogen levels in poultry flocks.
Those signing the letter were: Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Food & Water Watch, Government Accountability Project, National Consumers League, and STOP Foodborne Illness.